We have dismantled pool 1x so far. Redid ground, filling in now and so far 1 - 1" inches difference, stopped filling to fix. Thinking of getting something to stabilize legs on the side, where seems to be the problem.
1-2 inches is definitely OK. I'd leave it there. Don't simply jack up the leg to make the top frame level. This will cause the liner to stretch and put a lot of pressure on the seam at the bottom. Eventually it can give out.
This past April I brought a Summer Waves 16'X48"round pool similar to this. I really took the time to research and watched lots of tutorials on setting it up. I'm pretty handy and the majority of the techniques and procedures were pretty clear to me. From the beginning I decided not to use sand under the liner, primarily because of settling and wash outs so I decided to basically use the already settled ground of my yard. I made a water level which really assisted me on leveling the entire area. Basically after picking the exact location of the pool, I removed the sod and with the level found the lowest point within this area. This low point became my final grade, so anything higher I dug out. When it was all said and done, I was surprised and excited to find out that the pool only had about 1/4" variance from one side to the other. I got tired of struggling with the cartridge filters and manually vacuuming the pool, every other day. Next week I should be receiving my 2,100GPH sand filtration pump from Intex, an automatic vacuum that works with the new pump's suction and all the hardware needed for the conversion. Very happy with the pool and the kids love it.
Working at a pool store, soooooo many people really believe that small intex cartridge filter and pump is enough.. and without a skimmer?! It's like intex just supplied a huge bath tub for people and trusted them to know how to turn it into an efficient pool.. great video and love the upgrades you made!!!
This is so true. The tiny little 330 gallon filter Intex puts in with its 10x30 and 12x40 pools are a ridiculous addition. A bigger filter is needed. Just, buy a bigger one. My theory is that Intex can't sell those alone so they're getting rid of them by putting them in with the pools. That is merely my theory, no way to know if that is the truth.
Thank you! It was definitely a process but in hindsight, it was the right move. I'll be putting the pool back up soon! Fingers crossed that it goes better this time!
My God you are a saint! My video at about the 8 minute mark would have shown me running out of camera view and moments later running back to the pool attacking it with an axe! That said you ended up doing a great job on the pool and the video.... A+ You rock!
Hahaha! I absolutely love that visual in my head! Thank you for the chuckle and I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Please subscribe if you haven't already! Many more to come!
Our 15’ x 48” pool arrived this week. We’ve had a the tiny Intex 12’ x 30” pool for 4 years and the grand girls have outgrown it. I’ve watched so many “how to” videos until discovering this one last night. This will be the last, and I thank you! We mistakenly used sand under the current pool and had already discovered after four years, sand is not a friend to leveling and it’s messy and labor intensive. Our house was covered in sand because our dog continuously tracked it inside. Thank you again for this, fingers crossed that this time next summer, we will be enjoying our investment and am confident we will because of this helpful and insightful video!
I REALLY appreciate the step by step. It is not easy to find one showing the process from the beginning, and by including your mistakes you have saved me from making my own! I appreciate it!
I just spent the better part of 5 days preparing the ground for my granddaughter's pool. My Daughter upgraded to this type after three years of a 15 foot round blow up ring style pool (self supporting/no legs). Having owned & installed an above ground permanent (leave up) pool I knew the importance of a level & solid foundation. Tip 1 ALWAYS dig down NEVER build up for level. Tip 2 MINIMAL sand, it is to smooth ground for liner period. Tip 3 PATIO STONES (8x16) for legs absolutely level and on solid ground not too far in so liner rubs on them. We put top frame together & placed on ground to mark where each leg would land, then angled the brick to follow the rails so the leg would seat in center (left to right) but sit on inward third of brick. I dug my bricks in leaving about a half inch or so above ground level...this job is not for the faint of heart. I leveled each brick side to side and front to back with small level the used my 4ft level from brick to brick maintaining the exact height all the way around (began at 1 brick went halfway around clock wise and then from that 1rst brick counter clockwise until I met up again with that halfway point which helped maintain level better) making sure all were firmly seated by tamping in with rubber mallet. I then put sand in and used a board to level it (I used a board 1/2 the diameter of pool plus the width of my bricks mounted on a pipe in the exact center of pool creating a clock hand type sweep but a board the length of diameter plus a foot would work... I used some ply wood pieces between each brick to temporarily bridge the gap between bricks so my sweep remained level, perfectly leveling and smoothing the sand). I then watered the sand thoroughly with a fine mist making it hard like the waters edge at beach, placed a wide board down carefully to walk on while retrieving my pipe from the middle, filled in that small hole with sand I brought out with me in quart baggie leveled as best I could and watered in, walked out on board, carefully lifted board. Our ground cover was salvaged from neighbor, it is the bottom their old pool about 3ft bigger in diameter than this one, its heavier than a tarp. I placed it over sand & patio bricks to mitigate any rubbing of pool on brick edges before placing pool. I will come back and update how it holds up.
man, this was outstanding. I watched this start to finish and I’m digging into installation this weekend. your video (with all the pitfalls and mistakes included) has really opened my eyes and prepped me for the week ahead. THANK YOU.
@@dontburnthehousedownvideos Actually, just thought of a question: did you have to drain the pool again when you chose to do the upgraded pump? I haven’t gotten a sand pump/filter yet but sure seems like the right thing to do and I’d prefer to just fill the pool once if I can.
This has to be one of the BEST instructional videos out there! Your detailed explanations were perfect along with the Ring video. Plus you have a great voice. I've had 2 inground pools, but I've downsized and just want something to float around in without a major investment. I realize this was done 3 years ago, but thank you for sharing your experience, and I hope you guys have been enjoying the fruit of your labors!
For our 18 foot pool, we built a 20 X 20 Frame, using 6 X 6 boards, and made sure the entire frame was level. Because the best spot in the yard still had a drop (14" at the extreme) the frame required more lumber on one end to make it level. Connected the 6 X 6s with spike-type nails. Then just filled up the frame with sand. Then we built about a 22 foot board that we used to level the sand, taking the board across the frame. We used a tamper to make the sand more compact, and just kept going over the frame with the 22 foot board until it was just right. The pool was perfectly level and the frame, filled with sand, was used every year.
I had the same issue with the ladder on our previous pool. We built a small deck, 8’x8’, adjacent to the pool with wooden steps. Bought a sturdy “half-ladder” for inside the pool and connected it to the deck with hardware. Very safe. Next time I’ll build a bigger deck.
My wife got a 16 feet pool and apparently thought I could set it up this evening as tomorrow the weather was supposed to be great. I am selling a brand new pool now.
I did a 15 foot above ground pool for the last time. I have gone through 3 INTEX Vinyl Liner pools with Fiberglass Shell. This time went to The Pool Factory out of New Jersey. They provided everything for a Metal Shell and Metal posts with resin caps and 7 inch steel topper. I went with a Hydro tools Cartridge Filter System 1.5HP Pump 70150 and 2 foot x 10 inch filter. A pool Frog Leap Mineral Chlorinator System (uses only .5 ppm chlorine). Uses 1.5 inch hoses with a cut- off bypass 3-way switch valve. I am 67 and did almost all the work myself. Had my son roll out the 16 foot 54-inch steel shell, and dump the 2-Tons of play sand. They recommend concrete step blocks 9 x 6 under each post. They have a great set of ladders to choose from; since I too wanted a wider and stronger ladder. Confer Evolution Resin A-Frame Safety Ladder 7100X 7000; that has a fold up steps on the inside portion of the pool, which is strengthen by adding water for weight. this is secured with a padlock. I staked the outside with 10-inch spikes. The liner is supported by 15' Round Peel N' Stick Foam Pool Cove - Gladon XL 15-12PCS-BDL, instead of just sand. Colorado weather is extreme so use a 15' Round Super Heavy XXtreme Winter Cover WINCOVER-R-15-XXTREME all year. It even blocked the hail last week. Also included with the 15'x54" Melenia Round Pool Hayward Thru-Wall -Wide Mouth Skimmer & Return Fitting Hayward H-Series 150K BTU Propane Above Ground Heater. I only had to raise one post 1.5 inches. It really made a difference with high quality pool.
So sorry for you that you had to do it all over again! I can imagine the reaction of your kids when you had to do that ... went about half way through the leveling process before I got frustrated and turned to CZcams ... your experience made me feel a bit better that I’m not the only one making mistakes - so thank you for this video and hope you are enjoying the pool .... I gotta get back to working on leveling the ground !
I got an easy set pool a few years back an 8x 30 and then a 10x30. I did a TERRIBLE job leveling. I had to take down and start over. For a few years I topped up the leveling with sand. It worked ok. but, not my best decision. It was very nice under our feet but washed out for sure every time we took the pool down. This summer I had some extra fill dirt. It worked SO MUCH better. I still used some sand, but not as much. Luckily I only have a bit less than inch too low in one spot. Mid summer I am upgrading to a frame pool. The easy set is actually just fine for our purposes EXCEPT now we have a dog who likes to swim. She jumped in when left unsupervised and popped the ring. I patched the ring and it held just fine. But I realized I need a sturdier pool. I was nervous because it will be more work to set up. This video has made me MUCH less nervous about it and some of the mistakes you made, I would have made too. Best video I've seen so far.
It can be a lot of very hard work depending on what the spot looks like right now. Just be prepared for it and don't half ass it. You will absolutely pay for it if you take shortcuts.
I've been debating on purchasing this pool for a few months now. I have bought intex for over 15 years (the one with the inflatable ring and they always end up getting holes, but the intex are so easy to set up.) Always prepared to patch holes in the ring though. Tired of having to do that, thought I could try a different model. This looked easy but after watching your video, I am gratefull for all the trial and error you showed. I learned a lot about this model set up...THANK YOU!!!! Level ground is not a problem we have that using sand and previous pool used over and over for 10 years. We figured out how to level our area, but like you said that is CRITICAL! Bad Foundation, expect disaster! I plan to tackle this next week. I can't thank you enough for all the info! The video is extremely informative!
I'm gonna use the same pool to compact the sand year over year. Maybe I'll put a framed pool up, maybe I won't, but I'm not digging up my yard. I physically can't so packing down the sand over time with the round blow up pool seems to be a viable alternative.
The unit heats up fast and is super quiet. It looks fancy czcams.com/users/postUgkxl8Od2BvnGbn1ffwqsuFXW0QnmcZgMiVY and can be kept in the living room. It gets hot within a split second of turning on the unit. The build quality is exceptionally good and is safe to be around kids and pets. This one is super quiet and can be kept on while in office meetings, my wife loved it. It shows the temperature right on the unit which is very useful and adding a rotating feature helps to heat up the surrounding, so other people will not fight with you for heat. It is right as described in the description..!! Definitely recommend!!
Lol 😂 wow he really went over board doing this job? Why not find a level spot then put up the pool? I didn't do any of this by my self and cleaned it every other night his going to far lol 😂
If it was as easy as finding a level spot, I would have done it. My yard has a slope to the back of the property. And I don't half ass things. It's either full ass or none at all! 😂
i bought an above ground pool just because it was hot out i never thought about the fact that the ground could mess up how the pool would turn out so much i set up the pool on very uneven ground then filled it with water and as you guessed it. it turned out terrible i just started researching about above ground pools and how to 'properly set it up and this gave so much help i next time i will do it propery! thanks again!
I worked so hard on mine, all alone...now I think I have to take down and start again. One leg has moved a bit, I'm terrified to leave it like that .. slight very slight higher side. It was just about perfectly level, i don't know what went wrong...so upset about having to possibly drain it
The legs will definitely move but if it's only an inch or two out of level, you'll be ok. I know we all want perfection but that's pretty hard to achieve.
@@lizabeck1221 that’s great to know. We moved to our new house and discovered we’re on clay soil AND on a slope. The soil is as hard as concrete and difficult to work with but am hoping we can level it down perfectly.
I'm here because my wife got one too, and since we know being a mother it's the hardest job on earth blah blah blah of course setting up this thing its super easy for us dads.
Hello. Thanks for the video. I use the same ladder (european version though, with removable external ladder) and I can guarantee you : it is sturdy enough for my over 300 pounds weight. I like your external skimmer, I'll probably install one next year. And for the record, I'm quite happy with my original cartridge pump, notably since I changed the type-A filters for filter balls : water is crystal clear, flow is always optimal, almost no noise, low electricity consumption, and that tiny pump is so light that I can carry it single handed when I want to move it back to a shelf for winter.
Hi Joel, I plan to use the same ladder, problem is that I weight 330 pounds. Do you think it is safe enough to use them, or should I look after ones with higher weight limit ? Thanks
@@Asphar1337 Wow. What should I say ? Second year, still no problem with my ladder, and I still weight about 300 lbs. Now, to be on the safe side... Yes you should consider buying another one.
One of the most informative videos I've seen on above ground pools, and I've watched quite a few! Thank you for sharing both your mistakes and successes.
What I learned when I installed my Coleman powersteel, 22 foot by 52 inch pool. I put down some landscape cloth. Added the sand. Wet the sand so it would settle, waited the next day. Releveled it. Rinsed and repeated. Had it for about a year almost 2. No issues so far
I'm on my 3rd season of the same pool. Definitely work on ground leveling and I tried sand also and it just compacts too much. I wish my model had the same connectors. I have the pins to push through the rails, which is the hardest part of putting it together. I take my pool down during non swim months and put up each summer. My instructions told me to be certain the pool is stretched out before filling. I fill with a hose also and I get in the pool and push the edges and floor out and flat while it fills. So far the included pump works fine for us. water stays clean and clear. I use a chlorine float, skim by hand and vacumn right through the small filter. I do have a surface skimmer I have not tried through the pump yet. It's new this year. I have a small yard and had to set up near trees so we get a lot of debris and I spend a lot of time keeping it clean. But the filter works well I just rinse the cartridge regularly and change as needed. Good video to let folks know what they are getting into.
25:33 standard Intex size is 1.5" tubing,you had added an 2" ones... which is fine! What is not so fine is that you had only one outlet and that is the skimmer. There reason why pools had outlets in a deepth,the water must circulate and mix.In your case where both inlet and outlet are on a surface level the circulation wouldnt be good and that's why you are running your pump(which by the way is overkill for this size) 12h a day,instead 4-6h. Another thing am not fan of is the salt water system! It will corrode the metal tubes in no time. But you have a wonderfull yard on which am jelaous and the pool is great... so wish you happy(and safe) summer days ;) Cheers
I am going to rig up a different system for the inlet next year and utilize the lower outlet as well as the skimmer. So far, it's been doing fine this summer but you're absolutely right. Thanks for the comment and the input!
I SOOOO enjoyed your video. I have a 9'x18' Coleman pool, starting my 6th or 7th year with it. I did a lot of research before putting it up and went with a 2x6 treated wood frame( re- enforced in spots, 2 1/2" inches of compacted sand and its still going strong. I do drain and put the pool away each fall. I also went with a sand filter, and by-far the best investment I sprung for was a salt-water generator. I'll never have another pool without one, the improvement in water quality is far more pleasant than using Clorene. Again, thanks for the video, would love to talk to you more. Later gator, BBgun, Spokane Wa.
What a great video. I also cut my pool to fit the larger hoses for my sand filter. I used paving stones under my legs to help with the sinking. Also, I used thoses square foam mats you get from Walmart under my pool to make it softer to walk on and it stops any rocks from working there way up and cutting your liner at the bottom. Your best pro tip I liked was the power plugs I have a box as well and never thought to put them inside Is genius. If I may make a suggestion build something like a box or something to cover your samd filter and pump over time the sun will burn away the writing on the top of the sand filter. Ie filter, rinse, backwash etc. Anyway great video thanks for taking the time to make. Cheers
Thank you so much for your informative video. It’s very helpful. I was looking a review for this pool . We have the same pool. I like it but I don’t love it. I am very happy we were able to buy it on time and at a reasonable price but I will definitely update next year to the Intex ultra xrs. My friend bought one and you can see the difference in the quality of the liner, frame and pump. We had the same issue leveling the ground. Like you said this is the most important step if you want to do it right. I am using the pump and filter that came with the pool but I would upgrade them I could afford them. This pool is perfect for us especially now with this quarantine. Good Luck everyone
I am setting up the 12 ft on bricks already in my yard once it arrives..Thank you for the video. Not your fault. Company should indicate the prep to avoid collapase. The lengths you went to are amazing!! I have heard nightmares online from those that raised the poles.
Thanks for the video. My family just returned from a house that has this pool, and they tell us they take it down every year, and it takes a few hours to set up! Ah, ok, and it only costs in the $400 range! The boss and mini-boss are directing me to get it. Ok, I check, and the prices have gone Waaay Up, and your video shows it to be a lot more work than what our neighbors say. As the home laborer with other projects to complete, I think I will be going on strike and refuse to pay current plus $2000 for this pool. I am not sure how this will fly and will need to check my contract.
Unfortunately the cost of these pools went through the roof as soon as Covid hit and everyone realized that this was the summer for backyard vacations. We were lucky enough to get it early in the season. It definitely retailed for under $400 earlier this year.
Dude, thank you for showing us your mistakes. I definitely feel your pain for I've done probably one to many projects than what I wanted too and now thinking about doing this. I am glad at least you get to enjoy your pool now. Again thank you for the insights.
Thank you for this. I almost made 2 out of three of the mistakes you've brought up so far. the inlaws are so confused to why I stopped here to re-evaluate the leveling before I start building now I have something here to show them to explain why I didn't just YOLO the build lol
I wish I had watched your very helpful video before I started on mine which a 14ft diameter model. Thanks for your effort to help others! I concur with your advice. In my case there was only a 12” space around the pool in some areas around it and I had about 12”-16” height difference to level out. A lot of pick and shovel work to get the dirt out and level it. Fortunately there was no grass to deal with and the dirt minus the few rocks and tree roots I had to deal with provided a “good” base for the 4K gal + of water. Seeing how long it took to drain the water out scared me to think what if the vinyl tore or the structure collapsed. All the water would flood the structure next to it on one side. Crossing my fingers it won’t happen! Seeing you used 2x’s to alter the height of the rim though concerned me in that on mine, the bottom of the pool was in contact with the edge of the wood and I removed them and used dirt instead to raise them, being afraid that when vinyl could tear. The tarp that came with the pool was a thin and flimsy plastic. Below that one I placed a very thick sturdy tarp to provide additional protection from potential roots or pebbles under the base and sides. Once the summer is over here in California, I’ll take it down and will apply some of your advice and what I’ve learned for next time. All that work though, and it was a lot, was very worth it as I’ve spent time with family cooling off in our triple number summer heat. Thanks again!
I did the same! Same pool! Same leveling mistake. Had to have a pro come in and use an excavator to dig out our hill and make our backyard flat. Our house was built in a hill so to speak. EVERYTIME my kids get in the pool and it rocks I am so paranoid that it’s going to bust. I hate nagging them to stop being so rough. Ugh. Maybe I’ll cool down a bit. We upgraded our pump as well, and added a over the edge skimmer. I was going to try the salt water route, but right now I’m tired of spending money on it. 😂 We wasted a whole pool full of water the first time as well. But mine was like 8 inches fuller on the hill drop off side. I dug it out but didn’t pack it down. Oh well. You live and learn. How are you keeping the water clear. So far I’ve been pretty lucky, one chlorine tablet and my excavator told me to shock twice a week, esp here in Florida.
Sounds like you've been having an adventure with yours too! I don't worry about it rocking too much. My kids are pretty rough on it and it's doing fine. As for chlorine, I have a floating dispenser that I keep full with 3 tabs at all times and shock it as needed. I test it about every 2-3 days. It's been holding up well so far!
Omg your pool Is perfect.. I've leveled twice...1st myself , 2nd pros... week later legs on front end have moved a tad YET AGAIN like the 1st time I did myself 😫😫 I cannot drain again and start over again😔 takes forever to warm up. I'm just hoping it will hold up another month. Yes I have had grass dug up, pavers under legs and sand. Sooo upsetting. Anyway nicely done!!! Thank you for the detailed vids!video! Oppps noticed my comment is on the 1st set up video...should be under your 2nd year
We ordered a Doughboy and had it professionally installed. Everything is fantastic except for the national back order delay. We were supposed to receive it first of June. We got it the first of August. It got down to 38 degrees first week of September. Had 3 good weeks...boooo
Guys make sure when you store this pool that you seal it up in deck box that rodents cannot get into. They will chew holes through it to build nest during the winter. We learned the hard way 😭
😂 You couldnt pay me to take mine down now that it's installed, I have a 22 ft Colman Vista 2 that took 4 wks with ground prep etc to install. I'm in Ohio & happen to live in the Snowbelt. all you need to do is drain it down past the skimmer winterize it & store the pump etc inside til next yr... 👍🏻
I have a different pool, but the leveling is exhausting. I like the ladder I got from the pool store. It’s super sturdy and has a platform to sit on at the top.
Funny. In June 2020 I put in about the same amount of work (maybe more?) to install a 16x20' patio in our back yard. And basically for the same reason. Covid had just hit, we were going to be spending way more time at home, and I wanted a nice place to spend our time. This summer we bought a little 8x8' kiddie pool and probably just like with a full size pool, we've slowly but surely started gathering extra supplies to keep it clean so we don't need to empty it every few days. I bought one of the pumps that aren't good enough for a big pool, but it's working just fine for this little thing. And we've been adding chlorine and got the test strips to make sure it's not too chlorinated before going in. Basically preparing ourselves mentally for getting something bigger next year! It's surprising how much my wife and I have been using it. Just as much as the kids. At the end of a long work day, it's nice to just lay down in it and cool off. The big problem for me is, our back yard is a hill, which is where I would put a larger pool. We live on a hill (the city put a water tower at the top of the hill we live on), so leveling the ground is going to be a chore. But we're thinking of doing something much, much smaller than this. If we can set up and maintain one of the 12x12' x 30" ones with the inflatable ring around the top, that'll be good enough for us. So we'll see! I really appreciate you making this video because I learn a lot from mistakes :)
Hey another tip for someone who wants to upgrade pump and does not want cut the pool liner. The original houses actually fit down there inside the larger houses. I can provide pictures evidence. If you want to just spend money lol they offer adapters
Nice job. What I did to my ladder I went to Lowe's and bought stainless steel bolts which made my ladder stronger. I did not trusted the plastic cap nuts.
Hey, guys! Greetings from Colorado! We have 23 ft pool. Man, even this kind of pool is hard to keep clean. Good luck to you, guys! we love your channel.
Thank you for the wisdom of your experience. I'm about to put up the 12ft x 30 inch version/ slightly smaller but still big enough to stick next to my deck bar. The leveling looked to be the most important obviously.
I have a 12" intex pool. It has lasted about 5-6 years and probably get another 3-4 out of it. The steel structure is starting to rust and the pool pump gave out last year. This pool should serve you well if kept well and treated with respect. Moving on to a 15 foot ourselves soon or eventually.
Same pool - Messed up keeping legs inside the band as the loops came oriented outside the band and no mention in the manual. Ended up putting a giant. ratchet strap around it :)
Hello! Can you please elaborate on the strap you put around it? What exactly did you use if you don't mind? We have a 12ft one and the feet don't come with the holes to keep in place. Thank you!!
MsMick01 I used two Keeper 2 in. x 30 ft. Chrome Ratchet Tie Downs from Home Depot. linked together. Ratchet it snug (don’t overtighten). And legs stay put and don’t bow out. I think the straps are rated for 10,000 lbs. probably way overkill considering they used to shop hem with a rope. :)
Yep I’ve had one of these Intex pools for the last 7 years (just got a new one this year) and we always put our legs through the loops on the outside of the band. Never had any issues 🤷🏼♀️
I have an older model with the peg you push in on the t posts, that not a problem. What's going on now is the the poles that go into the tpost are rusting and crumbling apart. I'm using a closet dowel to hold it together for the rest of the summer. Pools are hard to find because of covid. Keep an eye on the hoses, after a couple years usage they will start springing leaks. Good luck with this and I know you'll all have fun swimming
Thanks, very good video (step by step)I had one exactly the same with stock parts, lasted 3 years bottom liner started to rip (my back yard is concrete)I just run the filter pump 24/7 and vacuumed every two days it was all good. Now I bought a Summer Wave 14' that I’m getting ready to setup it has a skimmer/filter pump but I’m thinking about adding a sand filter like your setup.
Still several mistakes. #1 You added dirt. Doesn’t matter that you used a sod roller. That little bit of weight is nothing compared to 30k+ lbs of water. Always dig down to the lowest point. Never add soil. #2 You added wood under the legs on top of the ground level. Supports are fine but stone pavers are better and they should be flush with the ground. Raising the legs stresses and stretches the liner. #3 Don’t use mulch around a pool. Use river stones or pavers. Just asking for splinters or a punctured liner. #4 Use a square aluminum tubing zip tied to the support poles to go under the skimmer for support. I’d also upgrade to the intex plunger valves to control the flow for the skimmer and when using the vacuum attachment.
@@skybox-101 - See #1. Adding dirt or any other material such as sand will not work. It’ll never be the same as freshly exposed and fully settled and compacted dirt. It will be as if you never added it at all once the weight of the water is involved. Removing the sod is recommended in order to start with a smooth surface and to prevent damage to the liner.
I disagree with what Cerus98 said. Adding the dirt and packing it down worked great. He's correct that removing dirt to make it level is easier than packing it down, but the end result worked out well. I removed the sod because grass will compress and cause the bottom of the pool to be uneven. At the end of the day, you want even and packed dirt to put the pool on. Cutting the sod up was the easiest way to get to that.
Great video! We have a 18' x 48" pool that will hopefully be up soon. We have a pretty big slope in our yard and had it excavated but it is still way off. We have a professional that was to come this week to excavate, level, tamp, etc. But of course it is raining again today and will the rest of this week 😕
Oh no. I didn’t realize that the legs need to be inside the band. We put them in the loops on the outside. All the other videos I have seen have them on the outside. The instructions are super clear about this. What does everyone else think? Do I have to drain and fix it? *crying*
Great set up. Only thing I would change/suggest is to get rid of the wood, and burry pavers so they’re level with the ground. The wood in most cases will still sink and over time will rot.
I knew that there was a lot of work into getting the ground leveled just right because we leveled the ground ourselves with our first pool. I bought a 24x52 and so knowing how much work there is in leveling the ground I hired someone to level the ground and set up the pool. It cost me a 1000.00 dollars but it was worth it. I hope to have a deck built next year. I bought steps to use to get into my pool instead of the A-frame ladder that came with my larger pool. With the steps it is so much easier to get in the pool than using a ladder.
As I was watching and commenting ms bunny order the pizza slice floaty she saw in a movie and the adapter cap for vacuming that attaches to the skimmer to catch the trash in the skimmer basket instead of the pump it drives me not unclogging the pump every 5 minutes while vacuming!" happy easter bunny "makes an easier life for mr grinch !.well worth the time and energy to make the Easter bunny happy!!!
No questions, this is THE BEST type of video to learn from. And bravo to you for having the guts to share your mistakes so millions can benefit.
Thank you very much!
@@dontburnthehousedownvideosdo we have to get all the things you mentioned in your links
It's totally up to you! But that's how I did it!
I cant believe I just watched this whole video. This was very informative. Now I just need to get a house.
Thank you very much for the comment!
We have dismantled pool 1x so far. Redid ground, filling in now and so far 1 - 1" inches difference, stopped filling to fix. Thinking of getting something to stabilize legs on the side, where seems to be the problem.
1-2 inches is definitely OK. I'd leave it there. Don't simply jack up the leg to make the top frame level. This will cause the liner to stretch and put a lot of pressure on the seam at the bottom. Eventually it can give out.
@@dontburnthehousedownvideos thank you for the reply. We will enjoy pool, as is then. 🐎
Shit I just looked for the for a level ground and put it up 15 kids inside it and it never broke this was an over kill bro lol 😂
This past April I brought a Summer Waves 16'X48"round pool similar to this.
I really took the time to research and watched lots of tutorials on setting it up.
I'm pretty handy and the majority of the techniques and procedures were pretty clear to me.
From the beginning I decided not to use sand under the liner, primarily because of settling and wash outs so I decided to basically use the already settled ground of my yard.
I made a water level which really assisted me on leveling the entire area. Basically after picking the exact location of the pool, I removed the sod and with the level found the lowest point within this area.
This low point became my final grade, so anything higher I dug out.
When it was all said and done, I was surprised and excited to find out that the pool only had about 1/4" variance from one side to the other. I got tired of struggling with the cartridge filters and manually vacuuming the pool, every other day.
Next week I should be receiving my 2,100GPH sand filtration pump from Intex, an automatic vacuum that works with the new pump's suction and all the hardware needed for the conversion.
Very happy with the pool and the kids love it.
Working at a pool store, soooooo many people really believe that small intex cartridge filter and pump is enough.. and without a skimmer?! It's like intex just supplied a huge bath tub for people and trusted them to know how to turn it into an efficient pool.. great video and love the upgrades you made!!!
Thank you!
This is so true. The tiny little 330 gallon filter Intex puts in with its 10x30 and 12x40 pools are a ridiculous addition. A bigger filter is needed. Just, buy a bigger one. My theory is that Intex can't sell those alone so they're getting rid of them by putting them in with the pools. That is merely my theory, no way to know if that is the truth.
Great job! I especially like the fact that you realized you made mistakes, disassembled, and started from the beginning.
Thank you! It was definitely a process but in hindsight, it was the right move. I'll be putting the pool back up soon! Fingers crossed that it goes better this time!
My God you are a saint! My video at about the 8 minute mark would have shown me running out of camera view and moments later running back to the pool attacking it with an axe! That said you ended up doing a great job on the pool and the video.... A+ You rock!
Hahaha! I absolutely love that visual in my head! Thank you for the chuckle and I'm glad you enjoyed the video. Please subscribe if you haven't already! Many more to come!
Thank you for doing this and showing yours mistakes. I bought one for the kids and now I feel 30% more prepared to set it up.
How your pool come out? Is it leveled ? Asking for myself, because mine is driving me crazy 🤪lol since end of May
Our 15’ x 48” pool arrived this week. We’ve had a the tiny Intex 12’ x 30” pool for 4 years and the grand girls have outgrown it. I’ve watched so many “how to” videos until discovering this one last night. This will be the last, and I thank you! We mistakenly used sand under the current pool and had already discovered after four years, sand is not a friend to leveling and it’s messy and labor intensive. Our house was covered in sand because our dog continuously tracked it inside. Thank you again for this, fingers crossed that this time next summer, we will be enjoying our investment and am confident we will because of this helpful and insightful video!
I REALLY appreciate the step by step. It is not easy to find one showing the process from the beginning, and by including your mistakes you have saved me from making my own! I appreciate it!
So glad I could help!! Good luck!
My dad always said “nothing” beats experience. Thank you for sharing yours. Very informative. 👍👍
Your dad is a smart man! Thank you for the comment!
im planning this for next spring... thank you for being humble enough to share the mistakes.
Thanks for the comment. That's how we learn!!
Here I am 4yrs later, watching this video. Thank you for sharing what worked, but what didnt work more.
I just spent the better part of 5 days preparing the ground for my granddaughter's pool. My Daughter upgraded to this type after three years of a 15 foot round blow up ring style pool (self supporting/no legs). Having owned & installed an above ground permanent (leave up) pool I knew the importance of a level & solid foundation. Tip 1 ALWAYS dig down NEVER build up for level. Tip 2 MINIMAL sand, it is to smooth ground for liner period. Tip 3 PATIO STONES (8x16) for legs absolutely level and on solid ground not too far in so liner rubs on them. We put top frame together & placed on ground to mark where each leg would land, then angled the brick to follow the rails so the leg would seat in center (left to right) but sit on inward third of brick. I dug my bricks in leaving about a half inch or so above ground level...this job is not for the faint of heart. I leveled each brick side to side and front to back with small level the used my 4ft level from brick to brick maintaining the exact height all the way around (began at 1 brick went halfway around clock wise and then from that 1rst brick counter clockwise until I met up again with that halfway point which helped maintain level better) making sure all were firmly seated by tamping in with rubber mallet. I then put sand in and used a board to level it (I used a board 1/2 the diameter of pool plus the width of my bricks mounted on a pipe in the exact center of pool creating a clock hand type sweep but a board the length of diameter plus a foot would work... I used some ply wood pieces between each brick to temporarily bridge the gap between bricks so my sweep remained level, perfectly leveling and smoothing the sand). I then watered the sand thoroughly with a fine mist making it hard like the waters edge at beach, placed a wide board down carefully to walk on while retrieving my pipe from the middle, filled in that small hole with sand I brought out with me in quart baggie leveled as best I could and watered in, walked out on board, carefully lifted board. Our ground cover was salvaged from neighbor, it is the bottom their old pool about 3ft bigger in diameter than this one, its heavier than a tarp. I placed it over sand & patio bricks to mitigate any rubbing of pool on brick edges before placing pool. I will come back and update how it holds up.
you say the bricks were 1/2 inch up from ground, what did you put under the wall tracks? Thanks.
Just what I needed! Thank you for the detail!
Thank you! Happy summer!
This pool doesn't have wall tracks.
RESPECT!!! For reocognizing your mistakes even after you had the pool filled. Restart, adjust, and fix. Nice job!
Thank you!
man, this was outstanding. I watched this start to finish and I’m digging into installation this weekend. your video (with all the pitfalls and mistakes included) has really opened my eyes and prepped me for the week ahead. THANK YOU.
I'm so glad i could help!! Enjoy the pool and good luck!
@@dontburnthehousedownvideos Actually, just thought of a question: did you have to drain the pool again when you chose to do the upgraded pump? I haven’t gotten a sand pump/filter yet but sure seems like the right thing to do and I’d prefer to just fill the pool once if I can.
love your candid honest video. Sorry you had to learn the hard way- but yet you're kind enough to help us neophytes.
God bless.
We're all here to learn together!
This has to be one of the BEST instructional videos out there! Your detailed explanations were perfect along with the Ring video. Plus you have a great voice.
I've had 2 inground pools, but I've downsized and just want something to float around in without a major investment. I realize this was done 3 years ago, but thank you for sharing your experience, and I hope you guys have been enjoying the fruit of your labors!
Thank you so much for the comment! It's definitely given us many years of enjoyment.
Take a bow, well done. I admire you for your willingness to do extra work (lots of it) to get the job done right. Hope you’re enjoying that pool.
Thank you!
For our 18 foot pool, we built a 20 X 20 Frame, using 6 X 6 boards, and made sure the entire frame was level. Because the best spot in the yard still had a drop (14" at the extreme) the frame required more lumber on one end to make it level. Connected the 6 X 6s with spike-type nails. Then just filled up the frame with sand. Then we built about a 22 foot board that we used to level the sand, taking the board across the frame. We used a tamper to make the sand more compact, and just kept going over the frame with the 22 foot board until it was just right. The pool was perfectly level and the frame, filled with sand, was used every year.
I had the same issue with the ladder on our previous pool. We built a small deck, 8’x8’, adjacent to the pool with wooden steps. Bought a sturdy “half-ladder” for inside the pool and connected it to the deck with hardware. Very safe. Next time I’ll build a bigger deck.
My wife got a 16 feet pool and apparently thought I could set it up this evening as tomorrow the weather was supposed to be great. I am selling a brand new pool now.
Best comment ever! I am sorry for your loss!
Yikes. You are brave. Did she sell the whole husband after that?
Lol.. wish I had just sold mine new also. Mine just can't get right 😖
oh no a skimmer wow that's to much
I did a 15 foot above ground pool for the last time. I have gone through 3 INTEX Vinyl Liner pools with Fiberglass Shell. This time went to The Pool Factory out of New Jersey. They provided everything for a Metal Shell and Metal posts with resin caps and 7 inch steel topper. I went with a Hydro tools Cartridge Filter System 1.5HP Pump 70150 and 2 foot x 10 inch filter. A pool Frog Leap Mineral Chlorinator System (uses only .5 ppm chlorine). Uses 1.5 inch hoses with a cut- off bypass 3-way switch valve. I am 67 and did almost all the work myself. Had my son roll out the 16 foot 54-inch steel shell, and dump the 2-Tons of play sand. They recommend concrete step blocks 9 x 6 under each post. They have a great set of ladders to choose from; since I too wanted a wider and stronger ladder. Confer Evolution Resin A-Frame Safety Ladder 7100X 7000; that has a fold up steps on the inside portion of the pool, which is strengthen by adding water for weight. this is secured with a padlock. I staked the outside with 10-inch spikes. The liner is supported by 15' Round Peel N' Stick Foam Pool Cove - Gladon XL 15-12PCS-BDL, instead of just sand. Colorado weather is extreme so use a 15' Round Super Heavy XXtreme Winter Cover WINCOVER-R-15-XXTREME all year. It even blocked the hail last week. Also included with the 15'x54" Melenia Round Pool
Hayward Thru-Wall -Wide Mouth Skimmer & Return Fitting Hayward H-Series 150K BTU Propane Above Ground Heater. I only had to raise one post 1.5 inches. It really made a difference with high quality pool.
I guess it's a good thing the Easter Bunny only comes once a year!!!! Lol ( But good job old man you deserve a scoobie snack!!! ) 🚬🍸🍷🍾🏊😋
So sorry for you that you had to do it all over again! I can imagine the reaction of your kids when you had to do that ... went about half way through the leveling process before I got frustrated and turned to CZcams ... your experience made me feel a bit better that I’m not the only one making mistakes - so thank you for this video and hope you are enjoying the pool .... I gotta get back to working on leveling the ground !
Thanks for the comment! And good luck in your adventure!
I got an easy set pool a few years back an 8x 30 and then a 10x30. I did a TERRIBLE job leveling. I had to take down and start over. For a few years I topped up the leveling with sand. It worked ok. but, not my best decision. It was very nice under our feet but washed out for sure every time we took the pool down. This summer I had some extra fill dirt. It worked SO MUCH better. I still used some sand, but not as much. Luckily I only have a bit less than inch too low in one spot.
Mid summer I am upgrading to a frame pool. The easy set is actually just fine for our purposes EXCEPT now we have a dog who likes to swim. She jumped in when left unsupervised and popped the ring. I patched the ring and it held just fine. But I realized I need a sturdier pool. I was nervous because it will be more work to set up.
This video has made me MUCH less nervous about it and some of the mistakes you made, I would have made too. Best video I've seen so far.
Thank you so much! Sorry about your trials and tribulations with your pool but hopefully the new one goes better!
Thanks for the heads up on the ground preparation. That was and is my main concern.
It can be a lot of very hard work depending on what the spot looks like right now. Just be prepared for it and don't half ass it. You will absolutely pay for it if you take shortcuts.
I'm so impressed that you were man enough to post the entire saga!
❤ You helped us all so much! ❤
Thank you!
I’m so glad we are not the only ones with pool misadventures!
So many to count at this point!
wish we had found your video when we first started our covid 19 pool project very helpful thank you
I love all these tricks for keeping the liner safe from any weight from the filter.
20:44 “I truly believe it’s gonna hold up a few years as long as we take care of it.” * proceeds to kick it multiple times.*
They were soft and loving kicks. 😜
David
I've been debating on purchasing this pool for a few months now. I have bought intex for over 15 years (the one with the inflatable ring and they always end up getting holes, but the intex are so easy to set up.) Always prepared to patch holes in the ring though. Tired of having to do that, thought I could try a different model. This looked easy but after watching your video, I am gratefull for all the trial and error you showed. I learned a lot about this model set up...THANK YOU!!!! Level ground is not a problem we have that using sand and previous pool used over and over for 10 years. We figured out how to level our area, but like you said that is CRITICAL! Bad Foundation, expect disaster! I plan to tackle this next week. I can't thank you enough for all the info! The video is extremely informative!
Thank you for the comment! Good luck on your pool journey!
I'm gonna use the same pool to compact the sand year over year. Maybe I'll put a framed pool up, maybe I won't, but I'm not digging up my yard. I physically can't so packing down the sand over time with the round blow up pool seems to be a viable alternative.
The unit heats up fast and is super quiet. It looks fancy czcams.com/users/postUgkxl8Od2BvnGbn1ffwqsuFXW0QnmcZgMiVY and can be kept in the living room. It gets hot within a split second of turning on the unit. The build quality is exceptionally good and is safe to be around kids and pets. This one is super quiet and can be kept on while in office meetings, my wife loved it. It shows the temperature right on the unit which is very useful and adding a rotating feature helps to heat up the surrounding, so other people will not fight with you for heat. It is right as described in the description..!! Definitely recommend!!
Lol 😂 wow he really went over board doing this job? Why not find a level spot then put up the pool? I didn't do any of this by my self and cleaned it every other night his going to far lol 😂
If it was as easy as finding a level spot, I would have done it. My yard has a slope to the back of the property. And I don't half ass things. It's either full ass or none at all! 😂
I had to redo my pool 3 times! I'm glad you are stressing the fact of "GETTING THE GROUND LEVEL" it's the most important thing!
in 3d printing the same.. print faill... ground leveling is always the answer
i bought an above ground pool just because it was hot out i never thought about the fact that the ground could mess up how the pool would turn out so much i set up the pool on very uneven ground then filled it with water and as you guessed it. it turned out terrible i just started researching about above ground pools and how to 'properly set it up and this gave so much help i next time i will do it propery! thanks again!
Thank you! Good luck!
We have set it up and taken it down three times now 😩 thanks for this helpful
Video
Oh no!! You broke my record of twice! I suppose we live and learn, right?
I worked so hard on mine, all alone...now I think I have to take down and start again. One leg has moved a bit, I'm terrified to leave it like that .. slight very slight higher side. It was just about perfectly level, i don't know what went wrong...so upset about having to possibly drain it
The legs will definitely move but if it's only an inch or two out of level, you'll be ok. I know we all want perfection but that's pretty hard to achieve.
thank you for passing on all your pool knowledge to the rest of us just starting out.
Hopefully it helps!
Amazingly helpful video. Thank you for taking the time to put this together to help save others the time and heartache from what you could teach.
Thank you very much for the comment!!
It’s always best to remove earth from the high spots versus adding to the low spots to level the ground.
That’s what everyone told us, but in our sloped yard with rocky dirt, we had to bring in some red clay dirt and build a retaining wall.
@@lizabeck1221 that’s great to know. We moved to our new house and discovered we’re on clay soil AND on a slope. The soil is as hard as concrete and difficult to work with but am hoping we can level it down perfectly.
@@mygalmo I was lucky to be able to get free sand at my job, so we topped the clay with the sand and that really helped.
We watched like 30 CZcams videos before we even started it’s very helpful. Thank you for sharing the goods and the bad
Thank you!
I'm here because my wife got one too, and since we know being a mother it's the hardest job on earth blah blah blah of course setting up this thing its super easy for us dads.
Hello. Thanks for the video. I use the same ladder (european version though, with removable external ladder) and I can guarantee you : it is sturdy enough for my over 300 pounds weight. I like your external skimmer, I'll probably install one next year. And for the record, I'm quite happy with my original cartridge pump, notably since I changed the type-A filters for filter balls : water is crystal clear, flow is always optimal, almost no noise, low electricity consumption, and that tiny pump is so light that I can carry it single handed when I want to move it back to a shelf for winter.
Hi Joel, I plan to use the same ladder, problem is that I weight 330 pounds. Do you think it is safe enough to use them, or should I look after ones with higher weight limit ? Thanks
@@Asphar1337 Wow. What should I say ? Second year, still no problem with my ladder, and I still weight about 300 lbs. Now, to be on the safe side... Yes you should consider buying another one.
You ain't lying about the pump... I just couldn't get it, keep it clean... wish I had You or someone around to help put Our next pool up...
One of the most informative videos I've seen on above ground pools, and I've watched quite a few! Thank you for sharing both your mistakes and successes.
Thank you very much!!
Bought the sand pump based upon your suggestion, and it made all the difference. Even filtered out the iron in the well water I had to use. Thanks!
I'm so glad it worked for you!
What I learned when I installed my Coleman powersteel, 22 foot by 52 inch pool. I put down some landscape cloth. Added the sand. Wet the sand so it would settle, waited the next day. Releveled it. Rinsed and repeated. Had it for about a year almost 2. No issues so far
I'm on my 3rd season of the same pool. Definitely work on ground leveling and I tried sand also and it just compacts too much. I wish my model had the same connectors. I have the pins to push through the rails, which is the hardest part of putting it together. I take my pool down during non swim months and put up each summer. My instructions told me to be certain the pool is stretched out before filling. I fill with a hose also and I get in the pool and push the edges and floor out and flat while it fills. So far the included pump works fine for us. water stays clean and clear. I use a chlorine float, skim by hand and vacumn right through the small filter. I do have a surface skimmer I have not tried through the pump yet. It's new this year. I have a small yard and had to set up near trees so we get a lot of debris and I spend a lot of time keeping it clean. But the filter works well I just rinse the cartridge regularly and change as needed. Good video to let folks know what they are getting into.
Thank you for the comment!
Thanks for sharing all the mistakes so the rest of us can learn from them. Appreciate every detail!
Great video, and super informative to anyone new to above ground pools like me.
25:33 standard Intex size is 1.5" tubing,you had added an 2" ones... which is fine! What is not so fine is that you had only one outlet and that is the skimmer. There reason why pools had outlets in a deepth,the water must circulate and mix.In your case where both inlet and outlet are on a surface level the circulation wouldnt be good and that's why you are running your pump(which by the way is overkill for this size) 12h a day,instead 4-6h.
Another thing am not fan of is the salt water system! It will corrode the metal tubes in no time.
But you have a wonderfull yard on which am jelaous and the pool is great... so wish you happy(and safe) summer days ;)
Cheers
I am going to rig up a different system for the inlet next year and utilize the lower outlet as well as the skimmer. So far, it's been doing fine this summer but you're absolutely right. Thanks for the comment and the input!
I SOOOO enjoyed your video. I have a 9'x18' Coleman pool, starting my 6th or 7th year with it. I did a lot of research before putting it up and went with a 2x6 treated wood frame( re- enforced in spots, 2 1/2" inches of compacted sand and its still going strong. I do drain and put the pool away each fall. I also went with a sand filter, and by-far the best investment I sprung for was a salt-water generator. I'll never have another pool without one, the improvement in water quality is far more pleasant than using Clorene. Again, thanks for the video, would love to talk to you more. Later gator, BBgun, Spokane Wa.
What a great video. I also cut my pool to fit the larger hoses for my sand filter. I used paving stones under my legs to help with the sinking. Also, I used thoses square foam mats you get from Walmart under my pool to make it softer to walk on and it stops any rocks from working there way up and cutting your liner at the bottom. Your best pro tip I liked was the power plugs I have a box as well and never thought to put them inside Is genius. If I may make a suggestion build something like a box or something to cover your samd filter and pump over time the sun will burn away the writing on the top of the sand filter. Ie filter, rinse, backwash etc. Anyway great video thanks for taking the time to make. Cheers
Thank you so much for your informative video. It’s very helpful. I was looking a review for this pool . We have the same pool. I like it but I don’t love it. I am very happy we were able to buy it on time and at a reasonable price but I will definitely update next year to the Intex ultra xrs. My friend bought one and you can see the difference in the quality of the liner, frame and pump. We had the same issue leveling the ground. Like you said this is the most important step if you want to do it right. I am using the pump and filter that came with the pool but I would upgrade them I could afford them. This pool is perfect for us especially now with this quarantine. Good Luck everyone
Thank you for the comment. And I agree, it's been a life saver during quarantine.
I just bought a pool very similar. Your video has been extremely helpful. Thanks
Thanks for stopping by! Good luck in your setup!
I am setting up the 12 ft on bricks already in my yard once it arrives..Thank you for the video. Not your fault. Company should indicate the prep to avoid collapase. The lengths you went to are amazing!! I have heard nightmares online from those that raised the poles.
SUCH a helpful and informational video. This is the good stuff! Well done man! Thank you!
Thank you so much for the comment!
Thanks for the video. My family just returned from a house that has this pool, and they tell us they take it down every year, and it takes a few hours to set up! Ah, ok, and it only costs in the $400 range! The boss and mini-boss are directing me to get it. Ok, I check, and the prices have gone Waaay Up, and your video shows it to be a lot more work than what our neighbors say. As the home laborer with other projects to complete, I think I will be going on strike and refuse to pay current plus $2000 for this pool. I am not sure how this will fly and will need to check my contract.
Unfortunately the cost of these pools went through the roof as soon as Covid hit and everyone realized that this was the summer for backyard vacations. We were lucky enough to get it early in the season. It definitely retailed for under $400 earlier this year.
My current situation all by myself 😭🥴 so far I’ve gotten the top layer of poles installed, what a JOB!!! 😂
Mistakes or not, you are a good dad.
Dude, thank you for showing us your mistakes. I definitely feel your pain for I've done probably one to many projects than what I wanted too and now thinking about doing this. I am glad at least you get to enjoy your pool now. Again thank you for the insights.
Thank to for the comments! Hopefully my suffering helps others! 😂
Hi , thanks for video. Helps me a lot. I am going to build my one this week, 12 feet pool. Hope everything goes well. Greet from Slovakia
Thank you for this. I almost made 2 out of three of the mistakes you've brought up so far. the inlaws are so confused to why I stopped here to re-evaluate the leveling before I start building now I have something here to show them to explain why I didn't just YOLO the build lol
Glad I could help. Just throwing the pool up is definitely a mistake without doing the proper ground work first.
@@dontburnthehousedownvideos proper ground work haha 😄
I wish I had watched your very helpful video before I started on mine which a 14ft diameter model. Thanks for your effort to help others!
I concur with your advice. In my case there was only a 12” space around the pool in some areas around it and I had about 12”-16” height difference to level out. A lot of pick and shovel work to get the dirt out and level it. Fortunately there was no grass to deal with and the dirt minus the few rocks and tree roots I had to deal with provided a “good” base for the 4K gal + of water. Seeing how long it took to drain the water out scared me to think what if the vinyl tore or the structure collapsed. All the water would flood the structure next to it on one side. Crossing my fingers it won’t happen! Seeing you used 2x’s to alter the height of the rim though concerned me in that on mine, the bottom of the pool was in contact with the edge of the wood and I removed them and used dirt instead to raise them, being afraid that when vinyl could tear. The tarp that came with the pool was a thin and flimsy plastic. Below that one I placed a very thick sturdy tarp to provide additional protection from potential roots or pebbles under the base and sides. Once the summer is over here in California, I’ll take it down and will apply some of your advice and what I’ve learned for next time. All that work though, and it was a lot, was very worth it as I’ve spent time with family cooling off in our triple number summer heat. Thanks again!
"Look at that level it so great" that is a true statement of satisfaction lol
Oh you know how it feels. Seeing that bubble in the dead center. Gets you all warm and fuzzy inside.
That neighbor lent you his trailer will also be expecting his invite to the pool party 😄
Haha! You got that right!
I did the same! Same pool! Same leveling mistake. Had to have a pro come in and use an excavator to dig out our hill and make our backyard flat. Our house was built in a hill so to speak. EVERYTIME my kids get in the pool and it rocks I am so paranoid that it’s going to bust. I hate nagging them to stop being so rough. Ugh. Maybe I’ll cool down a bit. We upgraded our pump as well, and added a over the edge skimmer. I was going to try the salt water route, but right now I’m tired of spending money on it. 😂 We wasted a whole pool full of water the first time as well. But mine was like 8 inches fuller on the hill drop off side. I dug it out but didn’t pack it down. Oh well. You live and learn. How are you keeping the water clear. So far I’ve been pretty lucky, one chlorine tablet and my excavator told me to shock twice a week, esp here in Florida.
Sounds like you've been having an adventure with yours too! I don't worry about it rocking too much. My kids are pretty rough on it and it's doing fine. As for chlorine, I have a floating dispenser that I keep full with 3 tabs at all times and shock it as needed. I test it about every 2-3 days. It's been holding up well so far!
Omg your pool Is perfect.. I've leveled twice...1st myself , 2nd pros... week later legs on front end have moved a tad YET AGAIN like the 1st time I did myself 😫😫 I cannot drain again and start over again😔 takes forever to warm up. I'm just hoping it will hold up another month.
Yes I have had grass dug up, pavers under legs and sand. Sooo upsetting. Anyway nicely done!!! Thank you for the detailed vids!video!
Oppps noticed my comment is on the 1st set up video...should be under your 2nd year
Extremely informative! We received this pool as a gift. Trying to hammer out all the little details with no instructions. Thank you.
Glad I could help! Thanks for the comment! Please consider subscribing if you haven't already.
We ordered a Doughboy and had it professionally installed. Everything is fantastic except for the national back order delay. We were supposed to receive it first of June. We got it the first of August. It got down to 38 degrees first week of September. Had 3 good weeks...boooo
Thank you for this video! Hopefully we will have success after watching this video. In the process of getting our pool up now.
Hey thanks for taking the time to put together this video!
Thank you for the comment! Please consider subscribing if you haven't already. Plenty more to come!
Guys make sure when you store this pool that you seal it up in deck box that rodents cannot get into. They will chew holes through it to build nest during the winter. We learned the hard way 😭
😂 You couldnt pay me to take mine down now that it's installed, I have a 22 ft Colman Vista 2 that took 4 wks with ground prep etc to install. I'm in Ohio & happen to live in the Snowbelt. all you need to do is drain it down past the skimmer winterize it & store the pump etc inside til next yr... 👍🏻
Great video. I am just about to purchase a pool and this was very informative hope i can follow your installation step by step.
Thank you!
I have a different pool, but the leveling is exhausting. I like the ladder I got from the pool store. It’s super sturdy and has a platform to sit on at the top.
Teresa can you share the brand of your ladder and a picture if possible. Thanks!
Oh man, I would have been so pissed in this situation. You are very patient. In the end you did it right though. Learning experience.
What easter bunny is this? I need one of these pools.
Funny. In June 2020 I put in about the same amount of work (maybe more?) to install a 16x20' patio in our back yard. And basically for the same reason. Covid had just hit, we were going to be spending way more time at home, and I wanted a nice place to spend our time. This summer we bought a little 8x8' kiddie pool and probably just like with a full size pool, we've slowly but surely started gathering extra supplies to keep it clean so we don't need to empty it every few days. I bought one of the pumps that aren't good enough for a big pool, but it's working just fine for this little thing. And we've been adding chlorine and got the test strips to make sure it's not too chlorinated before going in. Basically preparing ourselves mentally for getting something bigger next year! It's surprising how much my wife and I have been using it. Just as much as the kids. At the end of a long work day, it's nice to just lay down in it and cool off.
The big problem for me is, our back yard is a hill, which is where I would put a larger pool. We live on a hill (the city put a water tower at the top of the hill we live on), so leveling the ground is going to be a chore. But we're thinking of doing something much, much smaller than this. If we can set up and maintain one of the 12x12' x 30" ones with the inflatable ring around the top, that'll be good enough for us. So we'll see! I really appreciate you making this video because I learn a lot from mistakes :)
Thank you very much for the comment! Good luck on your pool journey!
Hey another tip for someone who wants to upgrade pump and does not want cut the pool liner. The original houses actually fit down there inside the larger houses. I can provide pictures evidence. If you want to just spend money lol they offer adapters
Nice job. What I did to my ladder I went to Lowe's and bought stainless steel bolts which made my ladder stronger. I did not trusted the plastic cap nuts.
Hey, guys! Greetings from Colorado! We have 23 ft pool. Man, even this kind of pool is hard to keep clean. Good luck to you, guys! we love your channel.
Thank you so much! 23 foot pool is life goals my friends! :-)
Thank you. Adding a rectangular pool soon and this is really helpful!
I got the 12 x 30 round and when I replace it with an enclosed sunroom with a big drain *dream sequence* I want the rectangular one, too!
We just bought the pool.
It should be here June 7.
I’m scared.
Thank you this was very useful and mirrored some of the "discussions" my husband and I have had!
Thank you for the wisdom of your experience. I'm about to put up the 12ft x 30 inch version/ slightly smaller but still big enough to stick next to my deck bar. The leveling looked to be the most important obviously.
Absolutely! Make it right the first time and you'll be golden.
This video was very entertaining I have the same size pool but it's the metal frame pool I upgraded to the 2500 gph cartridge filter
Thank you for the comment! The stock filter is definitely too small.
I have a 12" intex pool. It has lasted about 5-6 years and probably get another 3-4 out of it. The steel structure is starting to rust and the pool pump gave out last year. This pool should serve you well if kept well and treated with respect. Moving on to a 15 foot ourselves soon or eventually.
i had the pool up last year..... it was great. i replaced the filter with a sand pump filter too
You have a radio voice. Very nice!
Thank you!
Same pool - Messed up keeping legs inside the band as the loops came oriented outside the band and no mention in the manual. Ended up putting a giant. ratchet strap around it :)
Thanks for the comment! The "instructions" were definitely lacking.
Hello! Can you please elaborate on the strap you put around it? What exactly did you use if you don't mind? We have a 12ft one and the feet don't come with the holes to keep in place. Thank you!!
MsMick01 I used two Keeper 2 in. x 30 ft. Chrome Ratchet Tie Downs from Home Depot. linked together. Ratchet it snug (don’t overtighten). And legs stay put and don’t bow out. I think the straps are rated for 10,000 lbs. probably way overkill considering they used to shop hem with a rope. :)
@@curtismann3649 Thank you!!
Yep I’ve had one of these Intex pools for the last 7 years (just got a new one this year) and we always put our legs through the loops on the outside of the band. Never had any issues 🤷🏼♀️
Amazingly informative video. Thank you and nicely done sir!
Thank you very much!
I have an older model with the peg you push in on the t posts, that not a problem. What's going on now is the the poles that go into the tpost are rusting and crumbling apart. I'm using a closet dowel to hold it together for the rest of the summer. Pools are hard to find because of covid. Keep an eye on the hoses, after a couple years usage they will start springing leaks. Good luck with this and I know you'll all have fun swimming
Thanks, very good video (step by step)I had one exactly the same with stock parts, lasted 3 years bottom liner started to rip (my back yard is concrete)I just run the filter pump 24/7 and vacuumed every two days it was all good. Now I bought a Summer Wave 14' that I’m getting ready to setup it has a skimmer/filter pump but I’m thinking about adding a sand filter like your setup.
Thank you for the comment! Congrats on the new pool!
Still several mistakes.
#1 You added dirt. Doesn’t matter that you used a sod roller. That little bit of weight is nothing compared to 30k+ lbs of water. Always dig down to the lowest point. Never add soil.
#2 You added wood under the legs on top of the ground level. Supports are fine but stone pavers are better and they should be flush with the ground. Raising the legs stresses and stretches the liner.
#3 Don’t use mulch around a pool. Use river stones or pavers. Just asking for splinters or a punctured liner.
#4 Use a square aluminum tubing zip tied to the support poles to go under the skimmer for support.
I’d also upgrade to the intex plunger valves to control the flow for the skimmer and when using the vacuum attachment.
Is there any reason to remove the sod at all? Can we just add dirt to low side?
@@skybox-101 - See #1. Adding dirt or any other material such as sand will not work. It’ll never be the same as freshly exposed and fully settled and compacted dirt. It will be as if you never added it at all once the weight of the water is involved.
Removing the sod is recommended in order to start with a smooth surface and to prevent damage to the liner.
I disagree with what Cerus98 said. Adding the dirt and packing it down worked great. He's correct that removing dirt to make it level is easier than packing it down, but the end result worked out well. I removed the sod because grass will compress and cause the bottom of the pool to be uneven. At the end of the day, you want even and packed dirt to put the pool on. Cutting the sod up was the easiest way to get to that.
Great video! We have a 18' x 48" pool that will hopefully be up soon. We have a pretty big slope in our yard and had it excavated but it is still way off. We have a professional that was to come this week to excavate, level, tamp, etc. But of course it is raining again today and will the rest of this week 😕
Good luck with your project! Thanks for the comment!
Tina we have a sloped yard as well...I bought the 15’ but will have to dig out around 8-10” on one side. Please let me know your input...😱
That sand filter is the bomb!
I agree!
Oh no. I didn’t realize that the legs need to be inside the band. We put them in the loops on the outside. All the other videos I have seen have them on the outside. The instructions are super clear about this. What does everyone else think? Do I have to drain and fix it? *crying*
If you put them on the outside of the band you are putting 100% faith in the stitching or glue holding the loop to the band.
Great set up. Only thing I would change/suggest is to get rid of the wood, and burry pavers so they’re level with the ground. The wood in most cases will still sink and over time will rot.
I knew that there was a lot of work into getting the ground leveled just right because we leveled the ground ourselves with our first pool. I bought a 24x52 and so knowing how much work there is in leveling the ground I hired someone to level the ground and set up the pool. It cost me a 1000.00 dollars but it was worth it. I hope to have a deck built next year. I bought steps to use to get into my pool instead of the A-frame ladder that came with my larger pool. With the steps it is so much easier to get in the pool than using a ladder.
Can you tell where you got your pool please
Power to you! I would have never done all of that taking down
As I was watching and commenting ms bunny order the pizza slice floaty she saw in a movie and the adapter cap for vacuming that attaches to the skimmer to catch the trash in the skimmer basket instead of the pump it drives me not unclogging the pump every 5 minutes while vacuming!" happy easter bunny "makes an easier life for mr grinch !.well worth the time and energy to make the Easter bunny happy!!!
Terrific...you done yer due diligence to inform yer fellow MightBeAGPoolOwners. Chas
Great video. Now that you went through all this trouble..... I'm hoping I won't have to! Thanks.
I hope everything goes well for you!